Lugansky - Prokofiev Piano Concerto No. 2

Sergey Prokofiev (1891-1953)
Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 16 (1913, 1924)
Nikolai Lugansky, soliste
Marko Letonja conducting l’Orchestre philharmonique de Strasbourg, 2019

I.
[0:00] Theme 1. G minor - Andantino (narrante)
[3:35] Theme 2. A minor - Allegretto (con eleganza)
[6:06] Dev. - Cadenza (dolce - espressivo 6:52 - precipitato 8:39 - pesante 8:48 - con affetto 9:12 - colossale 9:30 - con tutta forza 11:12)
[11:15] Recap. (Andantino)

[13:00] II. Scherzo. Vivace (perpetuum mobile)

[15:42] III. Intermezzo. Allegro moderato

IV. Finale
[23:17] Allegro tempestoso
[24:45] Meno mosso
[25:49] Cadenza
[27:14] Prolation canon
[28:31] Allegro
[29:35] Moderato (Cadenza) - Andante
[33:33] Allegro tempestoso

“What would be the ideal way to compose a concerto? It occurred to me today that it would certainly be interesting for a pianist to be presented with a concerto that had its origin in a technically challenging sonata and subsequently been transformed into a concerto. The solo part would be bound to be interesting pianistically, while the sonata itself would benefit by the reinforcement and embellishment of a skillfully added orchestral texture. Brilliant idea! … I do have a nice Sonata in A minor, also a perfectly good C minor Sonata, and suppose I were to put together a crisp little concerto from that? …”

Diaries of Sergey Prokofiev, 1912

[alis]

A masterclass on 'how to project your sound as a solo pianist on stage'

[ivebarraco]

if we forget for a second about Lugansky, the fact that THE PIANO takes all this and still be in one piece is something to mention. god bless the steinways I guess.

[jackschieferdecker]

It’s just so hard to put into words the terror and wonder and beauty that you hear when listening to the cadenza build into the horn entrance in the first movement. I can only imagine that it’s the equivalent to watching a nuclear explosion. Listened to Wei Luo play this live just last night.

[davewalker]

This is THE BEST performance of this composition that I have ever heard. Lugansky has studied and perfected his interpretation of this. Jaw-dropping.

[Benjamin-fkyo]

there literally isn’t one occasion where lugansky plays poorly. once his fingers reach the keys he creates art, it’s unbelievable!

[aevan]

11:01
This is my first time ever hearing the end of this cadenza played in a way that’s actually intelligible/understandable to the listener… 🤯

[amynaalam]

Lungasky is probably the best pianist of our time. There are others who come very very close, but there’s something about how he understands and expresses all the changes that never feel forced, rushed or drag.
truly truly incredible musicianship

[klaus_vans]

Even tho he is a living legend he is also extremely humble and a very available person. I had the honour to meet him personally on a couple of occasions and he has been very simple, warm and welcoming.
After his concerts he never refuses to meet his audience outside the teather, even tho you can imagine how exhausted he must have been after his extremely intense performances !
What an true amazing Human Being 🙏🙏🙏

[ColeThomerson.]

I’ve listened to this 5 times in a day and god, it’s amazing! I can’t describe it.

[pianiman]

I'm used to hearing the Intermezzo at a faster tempo but Lugansky brings out so many colours in his voicing and phrasing (not to mention the orchestration shining through), I'm just in awe at all that I've been missing out on until now.

[leoinsf]

Damn, Prokofiev wrote some complicated music: technically and compositionally.
Lugansky doesn't blink an eye in the middle of some of the most technically difficult music ever written
and he plays them all: Rach 3rd, Prokofieff 3rd, etc.
He is probably one of the best technicians out there and such a quiet demeanor.

[aalb]

Oh, and Lugansky absolutely nails this piece. I really like his interpretations of the great russian composers.

[tyler-qrjn]

This is so amazing, I've recently fallen in love with Prokofiev's pieces. The sound is like no other, utterly unique.

[ЮрийМанякин-йн]

Luganskiy is russian pianist and he is playing russian composers better then anybody in the world what is the kind of feeling, it is awesome bravissimo he is real Master

[PieInTheSky]

6:08 greatest piano concerto cadenza of all time

[samnelson]

Overwhelming and terrifying and passionate and petrifying, but no words can describe the feeling I get at the end of the 1st movement cadenza. Entire body in chills! Wow wow wow

[kettynez]

A raw and expansive piece by the 19 year old Prokofiev . . unbelievable brilliance by Lugansky and the orchestra!

[YourJHaccompanist-hvqc]

He really nails it in this performance! The most fun concerto...to listen to, cannot say about playing it🙂ps. Violinist's face is priceless at 6:20...

[blitzpianist]

my piano teacher has played this before (i havent seen her personally) and so i looked it
dam shes a lot better than i realized

[PieInTheSky]

I'm seriously in tears at how beautiful this is..